Releasable connection mechanism for use within a well

Abstract

A releasable connection mechanism for use downhole with a tubular member includes a collet, a collet stop, and a ring housing. The collet is configured to engage the tubular member, the collet stop is axially movable with respect to the collet between a disengaged position to not engage the collet and an engaged position to engage the collet, and the ring housing is selectively axially movable with respect to the collet. In the disengaged position, the collet is configured to move with respect to the ring housing to engage the ring housing and prevent the collet from disengaging the tubular member when the collet is tensioned with respect to the tubular member. In the engaged position, the collet is configured to remain axially stationary with respect to the ring housing and disengage the tubular member when the collet is tensioned with respect to the tubular member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for disconnecting a releasable connection mechanism from a tubular member in a well, comprising:
 positioning the tubular member within the well; then 
 separating a collet of the releasable connection mechanism from a ring housing of the releasable connection mechanism while maintaining engagement between the collet and the tubular member; then 
 axially moving a collet stop of the releasable connection mechanism with respect to the collet from a disengaged position to an engaged position to prevent relative axial movement between the collet, the collet stop, and the ring housing while maintaining engagement between the collet and the tubular member; and then 
 applying tension to the releasable connection mechanism while the collet stop is in the engaged position to disengage the collet of the releasable connection mechanism from the tubular member to deploy the tubular member within the well. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 engaging the collet of the releasable connection mechanism with the tubular member to connect the collet to the tubular member; and 
 removing the tubular member from the well with the releasable connection mechanism. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 
 further comprising engaging the collet with the ring housing of the releasable connection mechanism to prevent the collet from disengaging the tubular member. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising shearing a shearable element engaged with the ring housing to disengage the tubular member. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the shearable element is configured to shear at a predetermined amount of force. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of collet engaging the ring housing of the releasable connection mechanism to prevent the collet from disengaging the tubular member further comprises allowing axial movement of the collet with respect to the ring housing. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising positioning the ring housing within the tubular member. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the collet is radially flexible with respect to the tubular member. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising positioning the ring housing about a mandrel comprising the collet. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mandrel comprises a recess formed on an outer surface to enable the collet to be flexible with respect to the mandrel. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the collet comprises a plurality of slots to define a plurality of fingers. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising engaging the tubular member with the plurality of fingers. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of moving the collet stop further comprises providing pressurized fluid against a piston coupled to the collet stop to move the piston and the collet stop with respect to the collet. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises a downhole tool. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising engaging a snap ring with the collet stop when the collet stop is moved to the engaged position to lock the collet stop in the engaged position. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises a threaded surface and the collet comprises teeth, and the method further comprises engaging the threaded surface with the teeth. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of axially moving the collet stop with respect to a collet of the releasable connection mechanism from the disengaged position to the engaged position where the collet stop engages the collet further comprises engaging a shoulder of the collet with the collet stop. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning the collet at least partially within the tubular member. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of tensioning the collet with respect to the tubular member, thereby disconnecting the collet of the releasable connection mechanism from the tubular member to deploy the tubular member within the well further comprises preventing axial movement of the collet with respect to the tubular member.